WO2005100569A2 - Procedes d'obtention d'epoxydes optiquement actifs et de diols vicinaux a partir d'oxydes de styrene - Google Patents

Procedes d'obtention d'epoxydes optiquement actifs et de diols vicinaux a partir d'oxydes de styrene Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005100569A2
WO2005100569A2 PCT/IB2005/001021 IB2005001021W WO2005100569A2 WO 2005100569 A2 WO2005100569 A2 WO 2005100569A2 IB 2005001021 W IB2005001021 W IB 2005001021W WO 2005100569 A2 WO2005100569 A2 WO 2005100569A2
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
polypeptide
nucleic acid
epoxide
cell
acid sequence
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PCT/IB2005/001021
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English (en)
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WO2005100569A3 (fr
Inventor
Adriana Leonora Botes
Jeanette Lotter
Michel Labuschagne
Robin Kumar Mitra
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Csir
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Priority to US11/578,820 priority Critical patent/US20070281339A1/en
Priority to EP05734006A priority patent/EP1756281A2/fr
Priority to CA002564119A priority patent/CA2564119A1/fr
Publication of WO2005100569A2 publication Critical patent/WO2005100569A2/fr
Publication of WO2005100569A3 publication Critical patent/WO2005100569A3/fr
Priority to US12/372,525 priority patent/US20090275077A1/en

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12N—MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA
    • C12N9/00—Enzymes; Proenzymes; Compositions thereof; Processes for preparing, activating, inhibiting, separating or purifying enzymes
    • C12N9/14—Hydrolases (3)
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P17/00—Preparation of heterocyclic carbon compounds with only O, N, S, Se or Te as ring hetero atoms
    • C12P17/02—Oxygen as only ring hetero atoms
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P41/00—Processes using enzymes or microorganisms to separate optical isomers from a racemic mixture
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12P—FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE
    • C12P7/00—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds
    • C12P7/02—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group
    • C12P7/22—Preparation of oxygen-containing organic compounds containing a hydroxy group aromatic
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C12—BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
    • C12Y—ENZYMES
    • C12Y303/00—Hydrolases acting on ether bonds (3.3)
    • C12Y303/02—Ether hydrolases (3.3.2)
    • C12Y303/02009—Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (3.3.2.9), i.e. styreneepoxide hydrolase

Definitions

  • This invention relates to biocatalytic reactions, and more particularly to the use of enantiomer selective hydrolases to obtain optically active epoxides and vicinal diols.
  • Optically active epoxides and vicinal diols are versatile fine chemical intermediates for use in the production of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, ferro-electric liquid crystals and flavours and fragrances.
  • Epoxides are highly reactive electrophiles because of the strain inherent in the three-membered ring and the electronegativity of the oxygen. Epoxides react readily with various O-, N-, S-, and C-nucleophiles, acids, bases, reducing and oxidizing agents, allowing the production to bifunctional molecules.
  • Vicinal diols, employed as their highly reactive cyclic sulfites and sulfates act like epoxide-like synthons with a broad range of nucleophiles.
  • Styrene oxide and phenylethanediol derivatives with substitutents in the meta- and/or /> ⁇ r ⁇ -position of the phenyl ring can readily be aminated to corresponding substituted phenylethanolamines, and many of these serve as drugs that are currently drawing interest, especially in their optically pure (Reconfigurations.
  • optically active 3-chlorostyrene oxide and 2-(3-chlorophenyl)-l,2-ethanediol can serve as useful synthons for elaboration into pharmaceuticals (Harada et al., 2003, Manoj et al, 2001; Monterde et al, 2004).
  • Epoxide hydrolases (EC 3.3.2.3) are hydrolytic enzymes that convert epoxides to vicinal diols by ring-opening of the epoxide with water. Epoxide hydrolases are present in mammals, plants, insects and microorganisms. SUMMARY The invention is based in part on the surprising discovery by the inventors that certain microorganisms express epoxide hydrolases with high enantioselectivity.
  • YESH yeast enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase
  • SEO yeast enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase
  • phenylethanediol PED
  • PED phenylethanediol
  • PED generally refer to an unsubstituted or a substituted (mono-, oligo-, or multi-substituted) "styrene-type epoxide” and an unsubstituted or a substituted "styrene-type vicinal diol” (or an unsubstituted or a substituted "phenylethanediol”), respectively.
  • epoxide or vicinal diol or phenylethanediol
  • the invention provides a process for obtaining an optically active epoxide and/ or an optically active vicinal diol, which process includes the steps of: providing an enantiomeric mixture of a styrene epoxide (SEO); creating a reaction mixture by adding to the enantiomeric mixture a polypeptide, or a functional fragment thereof, having enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity, the polypeptide being a polypeptide encoded by a gene of a yeast cell or a gene derived from a yeast cell; incubating the reaction mixture; and recovering from the reaction mixture: (a) an enantiopure, or a substantially enantiopure, phenylethanediol (PED); (b) an enantiopure, or a substantially enantiopure, styrene epoxide; or (c) an enantiopure, or a substantially en
  • Another aspect of the invention is a process for obtaining an optically active epoxide and/or an optically active vicinal diol, which process includes the steps of: providing an enantiomeric mixture of a styrene epoxide; creating a reaction mixture by adding to the enantiomeric mixture a cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding, and capable of expressing, a polypeptide having enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity, the polypeptide being a polypeptide encoded by a gene of a yeast cell; incubating the reaction mixture; and recovering from the reaction mixture: (a) an enantiopure, or a substantially enantiopure, phenylethanediol; (b) an enantiopure, or a substantially enantiopure, styrene epoxide; or (c) an enantiopure, or a substantially enantiopur
  • the incubation can result in the selective production of a phenylethanediol (PED) having the chirality of t-he enantiomer for which the epoxide hydrolase has selective activity and/or the selective enrichment, relative to the total amount of both enantiomers of the SEO in the ir- xture, of the SEO enantiomer for which the epoxide does not have selective activity.
  • PED phenylethanediol
  • the cell can be a yeast cell.
  • the polypeptide can be encoded by an endogenous gene of the cell or the cell can be a recombinant cell, the polypeptide b eing encoded by a nucleic acid sequence with which the cell is transformed.
  • the nucleic acid sequence can be an exogenous nucleic acid sequence, a heterologous nucleic acid sequence, or a homologous nucleic acid sequence.
  • the polypeptide can be a full-length yeast epoxide hydrolase or a functional fragment of a full length yeast epoxide hydrolase. Moreover both processes can be carried out at a pH from 5 to 10. They can be carried out at a temperature of 0°C to 60 °C.
  • the concentration of the styrene epoxide can be at least equal to the solubility of the styrene epoxide in water.
  • the styrene epoxide is a compound of the general formula (I) and the vicinal diol (phenylethanediol) produced, by the process is a compound of the general formula (II),
  • Xi, X 2 , X 3 , X and X 5 are, independently of each other, selected from: H, halogens, hydroxyl groups, mercapto groups, carboxylates, nitro groups, cyano groups, substituted or unsubstituted amino grc ps, amide groups, alkoxy groups, alkenyloxy groups, aryloxy groups, aryl alkyloxy groups, alkylthio groups, alkoxycarbonyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted carbamoyl groups, acyl groups, substituted and unsubstituted alkyl groups; substituted and unsubstituted alkenyl groups; and substituted and unsubstituted aryl groups, wherein the number of substiruents is one or more than one and wherein the substiruents are the same or different; or Xi and X 2 , or X 2 and X 3 , or X and X 4; or 4
  • the aryl group can. be, for example, a substituted or an unsubstituted phenyl group
  • the cycloalkyl group can be, for example, a cycloalkyl group with 5 to 7 carbon atoms
  • the cycloalkenyl group can be, for example, a cycloalkenyl group with 5 to 7 carbon atoms
  • the heterocyclic group can be, for example, 5 or 6 carbon atoms.
  • the enantiomeric mixture can be a racemic mixture or a mixture of any ratio of amounts of the enantiomers.
  • the processes can include adding to the reaction mixture water and at least one water-immiscible solvent, including, for example, toluene, 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, methyl tert-butyl ether, methyl isobutyl ketone, dibutyl-ophtalate, aliphatic alcohols containing 6 to 9 carbon atoms, aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 6 to 16 carbon atoms, or tributyl phosphate.
  • water-immiscible solvent including, for example, toluene, 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, methyl tert-butyl ether, methyl isobutyl ketone, dibutyl-ophtalate, aliphatic alcohols containing 6 to 9 carbon atoms, aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 6 to 16 carbon atoms, or tributyl phosphate.
  • the processes can include adding to the reaction mixture water and at least one water-miscible organic solvent, for example, acetone, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile, dimethylsulfo? ide, NN-dimethylformamide, or N- methylpyrrolidine.
  • one or more surfactants, one or more cyclodextrins, or one or more phase-transfer catalysts can be added to the reaction mixtures.
  • Both processes can include stopping the reaction when one enantiomer of the epoxide and/or vicinal diol is in excess compared to the other enantiomer of the epoxide and/or vicinal diol. Furthermore, the processes can include recovering continuously during the reaction the optically active epoxide and/or the optically active vicinal diol produced by the reaction directly from the reaction mixture.
  • the yeast cell can he of one of the following exemplary genera: Aivcula, Brettanomyces, Bullera, Bulleromyces, Candida, Ci ⁇ ptococcus, Deba yomyces, Dekkera, Exophiala, Geotichum, Hormonema, Issatchenkia, Kluyveromyces, Lipomyces, Mastigomyces, Myxozyma, Pichia, Rhodosporidium, Rhodoto "ula, Sporidiobolus, Sporobolomyces, Trichosporon, Wingea, or Yarrowia
  • the yea-st cell can be of one of the following exemplary species: Arxula adeninivorans, ALrxula terrestris, Brettanomyces bmxellensis, Brettanomyces naardenensis, Brettanomyces anomalus, Brettanomyces species (e.g.NC
  • UOFS Y-0111 Hormonema species (e.g. NCYC 3171), Issatchenkia occidentalis, Klujrveromyces marxianus, Lipomyces species (e.g.UOFS ⁇ -2159), Lipomyces tetraspoms, Mastigomyces philipporii, Myxozyma melibiosi, Pichia anomala, Pichia finlandica, Pichia guillermondii, Pichia haplophila, RXhodosporidium lusitaniae, Rhodosporidium paludigenum, Rhodosporidium sphaerocar ⁇ pum, Rhodosporidium tomloides, Rhodosporidium paludigenum, Rhodotorula araucariae, Rhodoto la glutinis, Rhodoto "ula minuta, Rhodotomla minuta -va .
  • Rhodotoi e.g. UOFS Y-2042
  • Rhodotorula species e.g. UOFS Y-0448
  • Rhodotoi'ula species e.g. NCYC 3193
  • Rhodotorula species e.g. UOFS Y-0139
  • Rhodotorula secies e.g. UOFS Y-0560
  • Rhodotoi'ula aurantiaca Rhodotoi'ula species (e.g.
  • Rhodotoi'ula sp. "mucilaginosa” Sporidiobolus salmonicolor, Sporobolomyces holsaticus, Sporobolomyces roseus, Sporobolomyces tsugae, Trichosporon beigelii, Trichosporon cutaneum var. cutaneum, Trichosporon dclbrueckii, Trichosporon jirovecii, Trichosporon mucoides, Trichosporon ovoides, Trichosporon pullulans, Trichosporon species (e.g. UOFS Y-0861), Trichosporon species (e.g.
  • UOFS Y-1615 Trichosporon species (e.g. UOFS Y-0451), Trichosporon species (e.g. NCYC 3212), Trichosporon species (e.g. UOFS Y-0449 , Trichosporon species (e.g. NCYC 3211), Tricliosporon species (e.g. UOFS Y-2113), Trichosporon species (e.g. NCYC 3210), Tr-ichosporon moniliiforme, Trichosporon montevideense, Wingea robertsiae, or Yarrowia lipolytica.
  • the yeast cell can also be of any of the other genera, species, or strains disclosed herein.
  • Another aspect of the invention is a method for producing a polypeptide, which process includes the steps of: providing a cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding and capable of expressing a polypeptide that has enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity; culturing the cell; and recovering the polypeptide from the culture.
  • Recovering the polypeptide from the culture includes, for example, recovering it from the medium in which the cell was cultured or recovering it from the cell per se.
  • the cell can be a yeast cell.
  • the polypeptide can be encoded by an endogenous gene of the cell or the cell can be a recombinant cell, the polypeptide being encoded by a nucleic acid sequence with which the cell is transformed.
  • the nucleic acid sequence can be an exogenous nucleic acid sequence, a heterologous nucleic acid sequence, or a homologous nucleic acid sequence.
  • the polypeptide can be a full-length yeast epoxide hydrolase or a functional fragment of a full-length yeast epoxide hydrolase.
  • the cell can be of any of the yeast genera, species, or strains disclosed herein or any recombinant cell disclosed herein.
  • the invention also features a crude or pure enzyme preparation which includes an isolated polypeptide having enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity.
  • the polypeptide can be one encoded by any of the yeast genera, species, or strains disclosed herein or one encoded by a recombinant cell.
  • the invention features a substantially pure culture of cells, a substantial number of which comprise a nucleic acid encoding, and are capable of expressing, a polypeptide having enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity.
  • the cells can be recombinant cells or cells of any of the yeast genera, species, or strains disclosed herein.
  • Another embodiment of the invention is an isolated cell, the cell comprising a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity, the cell being capable of expressing the polypeptide.
  • the cell can be any of those disclosed herein.
  • the invention also features an isolated DNA that includes: (a) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a polypeptide that has enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity and that hybridizes under highly stringent conditions to the complement of a sequence that can be SEQ ID NO: 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10; or (b) the complement of the nucleic acid sequence.
  • the nucleic acid sequence can encode a polypeptide that includes an amino acid sequence that can be SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
  • the nucleic acid sequence can be, for example, one of those with SEQ ID NOs: 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10.
  • an isolated DNA that includes: (a) a nucleic acid sequence that is at least 55% identical to a sequence that can be SEQ ID NO: 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10; or (b) the complement of the nucleic acid sequence, the nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that has enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity.
  • Another aspect of the invention is an isolated DNA that includes: (a) a nucleic acid sequence that encodes a polypeptide consisting of an amino acid sequence that is at least 55% identical to a sequence that can be SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5; or (b) the complement of the nucleic acid sequence, the polypeptide having enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity. Also included are vectors (e.g., those in which the coding sequence is operably linked to a transcriptional regulatory element) containing any of the above DNAs and cells (e.g., eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells) containing such vectors. Also provided by the invention is an isolated polypeptide encoded by any of the above DNAs.
  • the polypeptide can include an amino acid sequence that is at least 55% identical to SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, the polypeptide having enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity.
  • the polypeptide can also include: (a) a sequence that can be SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, or a functional fragment of the sequence; or (b) the sequence of (a), but with no more than five conservative substitutions, the polypeptide having enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase activity.
  • the invention features an isolated antibo y (e.g., a polyclonal or a monoclonal antibody) that binds to any of the above-described polypeptides.
  • isolated antibo y e.g., a polyclonal or a monoclonal antibody
  • exogenous refers to any nucleic acid that does not occur in (and cannot be obtained from) that particular cell as found in nature. Thus, a non-naturally-occurring nucleic acid is considered to be exogenous to a host cell once introduced into the host cell.
  • non-naturally-occurring nucleic acids can contain nucleic acid subsequences or fragments of nucleic acid sequences that are found in nature provided the nucleic acid as a whole does not exist in nature.
  • a nucleic acid molecule containing a genomic DNA sequence within an expression vector is non- naturally-occurring nucleic acid, and thus is exogenous to a host cell once introduced into the host cell, since that nucleic acid molecule as a whole (genomic DNA plus vector DNA) does not exist in nature.
  • any vector, autonomously replicating plasmid, or virus that as a whole does not exist in nature is considered to be non-naturally-occurring nucleic acid.
  • virus e.g., retrovirus, adenovirus, or herpes virus
  • genomic DNA fragments produced by PCR or restriction endonuclease treatment as well as cDNAs are considered to be non-naturally-occurring nucleic acid since they exist as separate molecules not found in nature.
  • any nucleic acid containing a promoter sequence and polypeptide-encoding sequence e.g., cDNA or genomic DNA in an arrangement not found in nature is non-naturally-occurring nucleic acid.
  • Nucleic acid that is naturally-occurring can be exogenous to a particular cell.
  • an entire chromosome isolated from a cell of yeast x is an exogenous nucleic acid with respect to a cell of yeast y once that chromosome is introduced into a cell of yeast y. It will be clear from the above that "exogenous" nucleic acids can be
  • homologous or heterologous nucleic acids are those that are derived from a cell of the same species as the host cell and “heterologous” nucleic acids are those that are derived from a species other than that of the host cell.
  • endogenous as used herein with reference to nucleic acids or genes and a particular cell refers to any nucleic acid or gene that does occur in (a-nd can be obtained from) that particular cell as found in nature.
  • the SEO used and obtained by the methods of the invention can be a compound of the general formula (I) and the vicinal diol produced by the process can be a compound of the general formula (II),
  • Xi, X , X 3 , X- ⁇ and X 5 can, independently of each other, be selected from: It; halogens (F, CI, Br, I); hydroxyl groups; mercapto groups; carboxylates; nitro groups; cyano groups; substituted or unsubstituted amino groups (including amino, methyla-mino, dimethylamino.
  • ethylamino, diethylamino, and various protected amines such as tert- butoxycarbonyl- and arylsulfonamido groups); amide groups (including unsubstituted, N- substituted and N,N-disubstituted amide groups); alkoxy groups (having 1 to 8 carbon atoms such as methoxy, ethoxy, propyloxy, isopropyloxy, butyloxy, isobutyloxy, terrt- butyloxy, pentyloxy, hexyloxy, heptyloxy, or octyloxy); alkenyloxy groups (having; 2 to 8 carbon atoms such as a vinyloxy, allyloxy, 3-butenyloxy or 5-hexenyloxy); aryloxy groups (such as a phenoxy or naphtyloxy group, which can be optionally substituted with an alkyl or alkenyl or alkoxy group
  • the number of substiruents can be one or more than one.
  • the substituents can be the same or different.
  • Xi and X 2 ,or X 2 and X 3 , or X 3 and X ⁇ or 4 and X 5 together and independently can also form an optionally substituted aryl group selected from the group consisting of: phenyl; biphenyl; naphtyl; anthracenyl groups; and the like.
  • the aryl group is a phenyl group, or an optionally substituted phenyl group.
  • Xi and X 2 ,or X 2 and X 3 , or X 3 and X- ⁇ or 4 and X 5 together and independently can also form a cycloalkenyl group with 4 to 8 carbon atoms.
  • the cycloalkenyl group can be selected from the group consisting of: cyclobutenyl-; cyclopentenyl-; cyclohexenyl-; cycloheptenyl-; and cyclooctenyl- groups that can variably be substituted at any position(s) around the ring.
  • the cycloalkenyl group is a cycloalkenyl group with 5 to 7 carbon atoms. .
  • Xi and X 2 , or X 2 and X , or X 3 and X ⁇ or and X 5 together and independently can also form a heterocyclic group with 5 to 7 atoms in the ring and 1-3 heteroatoms in the ring, where the heteroatom(s) is (are) nitrogen; oxygen or sulfur.
  • the heterocyclic ring has 5 or 6 atoms.
  • the heterocyclic ring can be selected from the group consisting of: furyl-; dihydrofuranyl-; oxazolyl-; dihydrooxazolyl-; isoxazolyl-; dihydroisoxazolyl-; oxathiolanyl-; thienyl-; dithiolanyl-; thiazolyl-; dihydrothiazolyl-; isothiazolyl-; dihydroisothiazolyl-; pyrrolyl-; dihydropyrrolyl-;; pyrazolyl-; dihydropyrazolyl-; imidazolyl-; dihydroimidazolyl-; triazolyl-; dihydrotriazolyl-; tetrazolyl-; dihydrotetrazolyl-; pyridyl-; dihydropyridyl-; pyridazinyl-; dihydropyridazinyl-; te
  • SEO and phenylethanediol (PED) derivatives can have substiruents selected from: halogen styrene epoxides such as 2-,3- and 4-chlorostyrene epoxide; alkyl styrene epoxides such as 2-,3- and 4-methyl styrene epoxide; nitro styrene epoxides such as 2-, 3- and 4-nitrostyrene oxide; alkoxy styrene epoxides such as 2-, 3- and 4- methoxystyrene epoxide; 3,4-disubstituted styrene epoxides such as 3, 4-dihydroxy styrene epoxide; 3- amido-4-hydroxy styrene epoxide; or 3-NCHO-4-hydroly styrene epoxide.
  • the styrene epoxide derivatives and phenol ethane diol derivatives can also contain heteroatoms in the ring such as N, O, and S in the 2-,3- or 4- position, for example, 2-,3- and 4- pyridyloxiranes.
  • Polypeptide and “protein” are used interchangeably and mean any peptide- linked chain of amino acids, regardless of length or post-translational modification.
  • the invention also features yeast enantioselective styrene epoxide hydrolase (YESH) polypeptides with conservative substitutions.
  • Conservative substitutions typically include substitutions within the following groups: glycine and alanine; valine, isoleucine, and leucine; aspartic acid and glutamic acid; asparagine, glutamine, serine and threonine; lysine, histidine and arginine; and phenylalanine and tyrosine.
  • isolated polypeptide or peptide fragment refers to a polypeptide or a peptide fragment which either has no naturally-occurring counterpart or has been separated or purified from components which naturally accompany it, e.g., microorganism cellular components such as yeast cell cellular components.
  • the polypeptide or peptide fragment is considered “isolated” when it is at least 70%, by dry weight, free from the proteins and other naturally-occurring organic molecules with which it is naturally associated.
  • a preparation of a polypeptide (or peptide fragment thereof) of the invention is at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 99%, by dry weight, the polypeptide (or the peptide fragment thereof), respectively, of the invention.
  • a preparation of polypeptide x is at least 80%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 99%, by dry weight, polypeptide x.
  • an isolated polypeptide (or peptide fragment) of the invention can be obtained, for example, by: extraction from a natural source (e.g., from yeast cells); expression of a recombinant nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide; or chemical synthesis.
  • a polypeptide that is produced in a cellular system different from the source from which it naturally originates is “isolated,” because it will necessarily be free of components which naturally accompany it.
  • the degree of isolation or purity can be measured by any appropriate method, e.g., column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or HPLC analysis.
  • isolated DNA is either (1) a DNA that contains sequence not identical to that of any naturally occurring sequence, or (2), in the context of a DNA with a naturally- occurring sequence (e.g., a cDNA or genomic DNA), a DNA free of at least one of the genes that flank the gene containing the DNA of interest in the genome of the organism in which the gene containing the DNA of interest naturally occurs.
  • the term therefore includes a recombinant DNA incorporated into a vector, into an autonomously replicating plasmid or virus, or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote.
  • the tenn also includes a separate molecule such as: a cDNA (e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10) where the corresponding genomic DNA can include introns and therefore can have a different sequence; a genomic fragment that lacks at least one of the flanking genes; a fragment of cDNA or genomic DNA produced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and that lacks at least one of the flanking genes; a restriction fragment that lacks at least one of the flanking genes; a DNA encoding a non-naturally occurring protein such as a fusion protein, mutein, or fragment of a given protein; and a nucleic acid which is a degenerate variant of a cDNA or a naturally occurring nucleic acid.
  • a cDNA e.g., SEQ ID NOs: 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • telomere sequence that is part of a hybrid gene, i.e., a gene encoding a non-naturally occurring fusion protein.
  • a recombinant DNA that includes a portion of SEQ ID NOs: 6-10. It will be apparent from the foregoing that isolated DNA does not mean a DNA present among hundreds to millions of other DNA molecules within, for example, cDNA or genomic DNA libraries or genomic DNA restriction digests in, for example, a restriction digest reaction mixture or an electrophoretic gel slice.
  • a "functional fragment" of a YESH polypeptide is a fragment of the polypeptide that is shorter than the full-length polypeptide and has at least 20% (e.g., at least: 30%; 40%; 50%; 60%; 70%; 80%; 90%; 95%; 98%; 99%; 100%, or more) of the ability of the full-length polypeptide to enantioselectively hydrolyse a SEO of interest. Fragments of interest can be made by either recombinant, synthetic, or proteolytic digestive methods and tested for their ability to enantioselectively hydrolyse a SEO.
  • operably linked means incorporated into a genetic construct so that an expression control sequence effectively controls expression of a coding sequence of interest.
  • all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. In case of conflict, the present document, including definitions, will control. Preferred methods and materials are described below, although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. The materials, methods, and examples disclosed herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.
  • SEO styrene epoxides
  • PED phenylethanediols
  • Fig. 1 is a restriction map of the pYLHmA (pINA1291) expression vector. The positions of the hpd4 promoter and LIP2 terminator and of unique restriction sites available for the insertion of coding sequences are indicated.
  • Fig. 2 is a restriction map of the pYLTsA pKOV93 expression vector. The positions of the TEF promoter and LIP2 terminator and of unique restriction sites available for the insertion of coding sequences are indicated.
  • Figs. 1 is a restriction map of the pYLHmA (pINA1291) expression vector. The positions of the hpd4 promoter and LIP2 terminator and of unique restriction sites available for the insertion of coding sequences are indicated.
  • Fig. 2 is a restriction map of the pYLTsA pKOV93 expression vector. The positions of the TEF promoter and LIP2 terminator and of unique restriction sites available for the insertion of coding sequences are indicated.
  • Example 3 - 7 are line graphs showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )- unsubstituted SEO by the indicated wild type yeast strains cultivated in shake flasks to produce optically active (S)-unsubstituted SEO and (R)-unsubstituted phenylethanediol (PED).
  • the left y-axis (and lines with shaded circle and triangle data points) in each graph show the changes in concentrations of the epoxides at the time points indicated on the x-axis and the right y-axis (and lines with shaded square and diamond-shaped data points) in each graph show the enantiomeric excesses ("ee") and degree of conversion (% epoxide converted to diol as a % of the total (both enantiomers) starting epoxide concentration) at the time points indicated on the x-axis.
  • the biocatalyst loadings are indicated in brackets beside the strain names in each figure.
  • the percentage biocatalyst loading refers to a percentage wet weight of yeast cells or an equivalent wet weight of lysed broken yeast cells in the aqueous fraction of the reaction matrix. In all these experiments, the value of the percentage wet weight of biocatalyst is approximately fivefold the value of the equivalent dry weight of biocatalyst.
  • the biocatalyst loadings are indicated in a similar fashion in all the biotransformation reaction profiles shown in the figures below. Figs.
  • Example 8 is a line graph showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )-unsubstituted SEO by the indicated wild type yeast strain cultivated in shake flasks to produce optically active (S)-unsubstituted SEO and (R)-unsubstituted phenylethanediol (PED).
  • the lines with shaded circle and shaded triangle data points show the changes in concentrations of the epoxides at the time points indicated on the x-axis.
  • the lines with open circle and open triangle data points show the changes in concentrations of the diols. .Fig.
  • Example 30 is a line graph showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )-unsubstituted SEO by a wild type yeast strain cultivated in a 10 L volume in a 15 L fermenter (bioreactor) to produce optically active (S)-unsubstituted SEO and (R)-unsubstituted PED.
  • the left y- axis (and lines with shaded circle and triangle data points) in each graph show the changes in concentrations of the epoxides at the time points indicated on the x-axis and the right y-axis (and lines with shaded square and diamond-shaped data points) in each graph show the enantiomeric excesses ("ee") and degree of conversion (% epoxide converted to diol as a % of the starting epoxide concentration) at the time points indicated on the x-axis.
  • ee enantiomeric excesses
  • degree of conversion degree of conversion
  • Examples 31-33 are line graphs showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )- unsubstituted SEO to produce optically active (S)-unsubstituted SEO and (R)- unsubstituted PED by yeast host strains transformed with vectors expressing YESH polypeptides from selected wild type yeast strains.
  • the left y-axis (and lines with shaded circle and triangle data points) in each graph show the changes in concentrations of the epoxides at the time points indicated on the x-axis and the right y-axis (and lines with shaded square and diamond-shaped data points) in each graph show the enantiomeric excesses ("ee") and conversions at the time points indicated on the x-axis.
  • Figs. 13-16 are line graphs showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )- unsubstituted SEO by either whole or lysed ("Y-PER treated") cells of yeast host strains transformed with either multi-copy or with single-copy integrative vectors expressing YESH polypeptides from the yeast strain Rhodotorula araucariae (NCYC 3183) to produce optically active (S)-unsubstituted SEO and (R)-unsubstituted PED.
  • the data is presented as concentrations of both enantiomers of the epoxide at the indicated time points.
  • Example 38 is a line graph showing the improved performance in hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )-unsubstituted SEO to produce optically active (S)-unsubstituted SEO and (R)-unsubstituted PED by a host strain transformed with a vector expressing a YESH polypeptide from a selected wild type yeast strain Rhodotoi'ula araucariae (NCYC 3183) cultivated in a 15 L femienter to produce optically active (S)-unsubstituted SEO and (R)- unsubstiruted PED.
  • Biotransformation in a stirred tank reactor using low temperature, tributyl phosphate additive and high epoxide concentrations further increased the efficiency of the reaction.
  • Fig. 18 (Scheme 1) is a schematic representation of the hydrolysis of two exemplary substituted styrene epoxides (SEO) illustrating the enantioselective SEO hydrolysis. Figs.
  • 19-23 are line graphs showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )-3- chloroSEO by the indicated wild type yeast strains to produce optically active (S)-3- chloroSEO and (R)-3-chloroPED.
  • the A panel in each figure is a line graph showing the change in concentrations of the epoxide enantiomers with time and the B panel in each figure is a line graph showing the enantiomeric excess of the (S)-epoxide at different conversions.
  • 24-28 are line graphs showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )-3- chloroSEO to produce optically active (S)-3-chloroSEO and (R)-3-chloroPED by various yeast strains transformed with vectors expressing YESH polypeptides from selected wild type yeast strains.
  • the A panel in each figure is a line graph showing the change in concentrations of the epoxide enantiomers with time and the B panel in each figure is a line graph showing the enantiomeric excess of the (S)-epoxide at different conversions.
  • FIGS. 29 and 30 are line graphs showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )- 2-chloroSEO to produce optically active (S)-2-chloroSEO and (R)-2-chloroPED by two yeast strains transfonned with vectors expressing YESH polypeptides from selected wild type yeast strains.
  • the A panel in each figure is a line graph showing the change in concentrations of the epoxide enantiomers with time and the B panel in each figure is a line graph showing the enantiomeric excess of the epoxide at different conversions.
  • Example 31 - 36 are line graphs showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )-4- chloroSEO to produce optically active (S)-4-chloroSEO and (R)-4-chloroPED by various t yeast strains transformed with vectors expressing YESH polypeptides from selected wild type yeast strains.
  • the A panel in each figure is a line graph showing the change in concentrations of the epoxide enantiomers with time and the B panel in each figure is a line graph showing the enantiomeric excess of the (S)-epoxide at different conversions.
  • Figs. 37 - 44 (Samples 151-158) are line graphs showing the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ )-2,
  • Fig. 45 is a depiction of the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:l) of a YESH polypeptide encoded by cDNA derived from a Rhodosporidium to -uloides strain (assigned accession no. NCYC 3181).
  • Fig. 46 is a depiction of the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:2) of a YESH polypeptide encoded by cDNA derived from a Rhodosporidium toruloides strain (assigned identification no. UOFS Y-0471).
  • Fig. 47 is a depiction of the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:3) of a YESH polypeptide encoded by cDNA derived from a Rhodotoi'ula araucariae strain (assigned accession no. NCYC 3183).
  • Fig. 48 is a depiction of the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:4) of a YESH polypeptide encoded by cDNA derived from a Rhodosporidium paludigenum strain (assigned accession no. NCYC 3179).
  • Fig. 49 is a depiction of the amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO:5) of a YESH polypeptide encoded by a cDNA derived from a Rhodotoi'ula mucilaginosa strain (assigned accession no. NCYC 3190).
  • Fig. 50 is a depiction of the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:6) of a YESH polypeptide encoded by cDNA derived from a Rhodosporidium toruloides strain (assigned accession no . NCYC 3181).
  • Fig. 51 is a depiction of the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 7) of a YESH polypeptide-encoding cDNA derived from a Rhodosporidium tomloides strain (assigned identification no. UOFS Y-0471 .
  • Fig. 52 is a depiction of the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO: 8) of a YESH polypeptide-encoding cDNA derived from a Rhodotorula araucariae strain (assigned accession no. NCYC 3183).
  • Fig. 53 is a depiction of the nucleotide sequence (SEQ ID NO:9 of a YESH polypeptide-encoding cDNA derived from a Rhodosporidium paludigenum strain (assigned accession no. NCYC 3179).
  • Fig. 54 is a depiction of the nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 10) of a YESH polypeptide-encoding cDNA derived from a Rhodotoi'ula mucilaginosa strain (assigned accession no. NCYC 3190).
  • Fig. 55 is a table showing the homology at the amino acid level of the YESH polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 1-5.
  • Fig. 56 is a table showing the homology at the nucleotide level of YESH- encoding cDNA molecules with SEQ ID NOs: 6-10.
  • Fig. 57 is a depiction of the amino acid sequences of eight enantioselective epoxide hydrolases aligned for maximum homology. Also shown are consensus amino acids.
  • the sequences labeled #1, #46, #25, #692 and #23 correspond to SEQ ID NOs: 1-5 and the sequences labeled Car054 (SEQ ID NO. 27), Jen46-2 (SEQ ID NO. 28), and #777 (SEQ ID NO. 29) correspond to enantioselective hydrolases catalyzing the hydrolysis of non-SOE epoxides.
  • the consensus catalytic triad is composed of a nucleophile, an acid and a base, the positions of which are indicated by N, A and B, respectively.
  • HGXP represents the region of the oxy-anion hole of the enzymes.
  • the YESH nucleic acid molecules of the invention can be cDNA, genomic DNA, synthetic DNA, or RNA, and can be double- stranded or single-stranded (i.e., either a sense or an antisense strand). Segments of these molecules are also considered within the scope of the invention, and can be produced by, for example, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or generated by treatment with one or more restriction endonucleases.
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • a ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule can be produced by in vitro transcription.
  • the nucleic acid molecules encode polypeptides that, regardless of length, are soluble under normal physiological conditions.
  • nucleic acid molecules of the invention can contain naturally occurring sequences, or sequences that differ from those that occur naturally, but, due to the degeneracy of the genetic code, encode the same polypeptide (for example, one of the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOS: 1 - 5).
  • these nucleic acid molecules are not limited to coding sequences, e.g., they can include some or all of the non-coding sequences that lie upstream or downstream from a coding sequence.
  • the nucleic acid molecules of the invention can be synthesized (for example, by phosphoramidite-based synthesis) or obtained from a biological cell, such as the cell of a eukaryote (e.g., a mammal such as human or a mouse or a yeast such as any of the genera, species, and strains of yeast disclosed herein) or a prokaryote (e.g., a bacterium such as Escherichia coli).
  • the nucleic acids can be those of a yeast such as any of the genera, species, and strains of yeast disclosed herein. Combinations or modifications of the nucleotides within these types of nucleic acids are also encompassed.
  • the isolated nucleic acid molecules of the invention encompass segments that are not found as such in the natural state.
  • the invention encompasses recombinant nucleic acid molecules (for example, isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides of SEQ ID NOs: 1-5) incorporated into a vector (for example, a plasmid or viral vector) or into the genome of a heterologous cell (or the genome of a homologous cell, at a position other than the natural chromosomal location).
  • a vector for example, a plasmid or viral vector
  • Recombinant nucleic acid molecules and uses therefor are discussed further below. Techniques associated with detection or regulation of genes are well known to skilled artisans.
  • Such techniques can be used, for example, to test for expression of a YESH gene in a test cell (e.g., a yeast cell) of interest.
  • a YESH family gene or protein can be identified based on its similarity to the relevant YESH gene or protein, respectively. For example, the identification can be based on sequence identity.
  • the invention features isolated nucleic acid molecules which are, or are at least 50% (e.g., at least: 55%; 60%; 65%; 75%; 85%; 95%; 98%; or 99%) identical to: (a) a nucleic acid molecule that encodes the polypeptide of SEQ ID NOs: 1- 5; (b) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 6- 10; (c) a nucleic acid molecule which includes a segment of at least 15 (e.g., at least: 20; 25; 30; 35; 40; 50; 60; 80; 100; 125; 150; 175; 200; 250; 300; 350; 400; 500; 600; 700; 800; 900; 1,000; 1,100; 1,150; 1,160; 1,170; 1,175; 1,178; 1,180; 1,181; 1,200; 1,220; 1,225; 1,226; 1,228; 1,230; 1,231; or 1,232) nucleotides of SEQ ID NOs: 6-10; (d)
  • the complements of the above molecules can be full- length complements or segment complements containing a segment of at least 15 (e.g., at least: 20; 25; 30; 35; 40; 50; 60; 80; 100; 125; 150; 175; 200; 250; 30O; 350; 400; 500; 600; 700; 800; 900; 1,000; 1,100; 1,200; 1,220; 1,225; 1,228; 1,230; 1 ,231; or 1,232) consecutive nucleotides complementary to any of the above nucleic acid molecules.
  • a segment of at least 15 e.g., at least: 20; 25; 30; 35; 40; 50; 60; 80; 100; 125; 150; 175; 200; 250; 30O; 350; 400; 500; 600; 700; 800; 900; 1,000; 1,100; 1,200; 1,220; 1,225; 1,228; 1,230; 1 ,231; or 1,232
  • Identity can be over the full-length of SEQ ID NOs: 6-10 or over one or more contiguous or non-contiguous segments.
  • Gap BLAST is utilized as described in Altschul et al. (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25, 3389-3402.
  • the default parameters of the respective programs e.g., XBLAST and NBLAST
  • Hybridization can also be used as a measure of homology between two nucleic acid sequences.
  • a YESH-encoding nucleic acid sequence, or a portion thereof, can be used as a hybridization probe according to standard hybridization techniques.
  • hybridization of a YESH probe to DNA or RNA from a test source is an indication of the presence of YESH DNA or RNA in the test source.
  • Hybridization conditions are known to those skilled in the art and can he found in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, N.Y., 6.3.1-6.3.6, 1991.
  • Moderate hybridization conditions are defined as equivalent to hybridization in 2X sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at 30°C, followed by a wash in 1 X SSC, 0.1% SDS at 50°C.
  • the invention also encompasses: (a) vectors (see below) that contain any of the foregoing YESH coding sequences (including coding sequence segments) and/or their complements (that is, "antisense” sequences); (b) expression vectors that contain any of the foregoing YESH coding sequences (including coding sequence segments) operably linked to one or more transcriptional and/or translational regulatory elements (TRE; examples of which are given below) necessary to direct expression of the coding sequences; (c) expression vectors encoding, in addition to a YESH polypeptide (or a fragment thereof), a sequence unrelated to YESH, such as a reporter, a marker, or a signal peptide fused to YESH; and (d) genetically engineered host cells (see below).
  • Recombinant nucleic acid molecules can contain a sequence encoding a YESH polypeptide or a YESH polypeptide having an heterologous signal sequence.
  • the full length YESH polypeptide, or a fragment thereof, can be fused to such heterologous signal sequences or to additional polypeptides, as described below.
  • the nucleic acid molecules of the invention can encode a YESH that includes an exogenous polypeptide that facilitates secretion.
  • the TRE referred to above and further described below include but are not limited to inducible and non-inducible promoters, enhancers, operators and other elements that are known to those skilled in the art and that drive or otherwise regulate gene expression.
  • Such regulatory elements include but are not limited to the cytomegalo virus hCMN immediate early gene, the early or late promoters of SN40 adenovirus, the lac system, the trp system, the TAC system, the TRC system, the major operator and promoter regions of phage A, the control regions of fd coat protein, the promoter for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, the promoters of acid phosphatase, and the promoters of the yeast ⁇ -mating factors.
  • Other useful TRE are listed in the examples below.
  • the nucleic acid can form part of a hybrid gene encoding additional polypeptide sequences, for example, a sequence that functions as a marker or reporter.
  • marker and reporter genes include ⁇ -lactamase, chloramphenicol acetyltrans erase (CAT), adenosine deaminase (ADA), aminoglycoside phosphotransferase (neo r , G418 1 ), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), hygromycin-B- phosphotransferase (HPH), thymidine kinase (TK), lacZ (encoding ⁇ -galactosidase)- xanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (XGPRT), and green, yellow, or blue fluorescent protein.
  • CAT chloramphenicol acetyltrans erase
  • ADA adenosine deaminase
  • DHFR dihydrofolate reductase
  • HPH hygromycin-B- phosphotransferase
  • TK thymidine kinase
  • lacZ en
  • the hybrid polypeptide will include a first portion and a second portion; the first portion being a YESH polypeptide (or any of YESH fragments described below) and the second portion being, for example, the reporter described above or an Ig heavy chain constant region or part of an Ig heavy chain constant region, e.g., the CH2 and CH3 domains of IgG2a heavy chain.
  • Other hybrids could include an antigenic tag or a poly-His tag to facilitate purification.
  • the expression systems that can be used for purposes of the invention include, but are not limited to, microorganisms such as yeasts (e.g, any of the genera, species or strains listed herein) or bacteria (for example, E. coli and B. subtilis) transformed with recombinant bacteriophage DNA, plasmid DNA, or cosmid DNA expression vectors containing the nucleic acid molecules of the invention; yeast (for example, Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Hansenula, Pichia, Yarrowia, A v ula and Candida, and other genera, species, and strains listed herein) transformed with recombinant yeast expression vectors containing the nucleic acid molecule of the invention; insect cell S3'stems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (for example, baculovirus) containing the nucleic acid molecule of the invention; plant cell systems infected with recombinant virus expression vectors (for example, cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMN
  • Also useful as host cells are primary or secondary cells obtained directly from a mammal and transfected with a plasmid vector or infected with a viral vector.
  • the invention includes wild-type and recombinant cells including, but not limited to, yeast cells (e.g., any of those disclosed herein) containing any of the above YESH genes, nucleic acid molecules, and genetic constructs. Other cells that can be used as host cells are listed herein.
  • the cells are preferably isolated cells.
  • the term "isolated" as applied to a microorganism refers to a microorganism which either has no naturally-occurring counterpart (e.g., a recombinant microorganism such as a recombinant yeast) or has been extracted and/or purified from an enviromnent in which it naturally occurs.
  • an "isolated microorganism” does not include one residing in an environment in which it naturally occurs, for example, in the air, outer space, the ground, oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams and the like, ground at the bottom of oceans, lakes, rivers, and streams and the like, snow, ice on top of the ground or in/on oceans lakes, rivers, and streams and the like, man-made structures (e.g., buildings), or in natural hosts (e.g., plant, animal or microbial hosts) of the microorganism, unless the microorganism (or a progenitor of the microorganism) was previously extracted and/or purified from an environment in which it naturally occurs and subsequently returned to such an environment or any other environment in which it can survive.
  • man-made structures e.g., buildings
  • natural hosts e.g., plant, animal or microbial hosts
  • an isolated microorganism is one in a substantially pure culture of the microorganism.
  • the invention provides a substantially pure culture of a microorganism (e.g., a microbial cell such as a yeast cell).
  • a "substantially pure culture" of a microorganism is a culture of that microorganism in which less than about 40% (i.e., ⁇ less than about : 35%; 30%; 25%; 20%; 15%; 10%; 5%; 2%; 1%; 0.5%; 0.25%; 0.1%; 0.01%; 0.001%; 0.0001%; or even less) of the total number of viable microbial (e.g., bacterial, fungal (including yeast), mycoplasmal, or protozoan) cells in the culture are viable microbial cells other than the microorganism.
  • viable microbial e.g., bacterial, fungal (including yeast), mycoplasmal, or protozoan
  • Such a culture of microorganisms includes the microorganisms and a growth, storage, or transport medium.
  • Media can be liquid, semi-solid (e.g., gelatinous media), or frozen.
  • the culture includes the cells growing in the liquid or in/on the semi-solid medium or being stored or transported in a storage or transport medium, including a frozen storage or transport medium.
  • the cultures are in a culture vessel or storage vessel or substrate (e.g., a culture dish, flask, or tube or a storage vial or tube).
  • the microbial cells of the invention can be stored, for example, as frozen cell suspensions, e.g., in buffer containing a cryoprotectant such as glycerol or sucrose, as lyophilized cells.
  • a cryoprotectant such as glycerol or sucrose
  • they can " be stored, for example, as dried cell preparations obtained, e.g., by fluidised bed drying or spray drying, or any other suitable drying method.
  • the enzyme preparations can be frozen, lyophilised, or immobilized and stored under appropriate conditions to retain activity.
  • the YESH polypeptides of the invention include all the YESH and fragments of YESH disclosed herein. They can be, for example, the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs:l- 5 and functional fragments of these polypeptides.
  • the polypeptides embraced by the invention also include fusion proteins that contain either full-length or a functional fragment of it fused to unrelated amino acid sequence. The unrelated sequences can be additional functional domains or signal peptides.
  • the invention features isolated polypeptides which are, or are at least 50% (e.g., at least: 55%; 60%; 65%; 75%; 85%; 95%; 98%; or 99%) identical to the polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 1-5.
  • the identity can t e over the full-length of the latter polypeptides or over one or more contiguous or non-contiguous segments.
  • Fragments of YESH polypeptide are segments of the full-length YESH polypeptide that are shorter than full-length YESH.
  • Fragments of YESH can contain 5- 410 (e.g., 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 120, 150, 250, 300, 350, 380, 390, 391, 392, 393, 400, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, or 410) amino acids of SEQ ID NOs:l-5. Fragments of YESH can be functional fragments or antigenic fragments.
  • the polypeptides can be any of th se described above but with not more 50 (e.g., not more than 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20, IV, 14, 12, 10, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, or one) conservative substitution(s).
  • substitutions can be made by, for example, site-directed mutagenesis or random mutagenesis of appropriate YESH coding sequences "Functional fragments" of a YESH polypeptide (and, optionally, any of the above- described YESH polypeptide variants) have at least 20% ( .g.- 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 95%, 98%, 99%, 100%, or more) of the ability of the full-length, wild- type YESH polypeptide to enantioselectively hydrolyse a SEO of interest.
  • fragments of interest can be made either by recom-hinant, synthetic, or proteolytic digestive methods and tested for their ability to enantioselectively hydrolyse a SEO.
  • Antigenic fragments of the polypeptides of the invention are fragments that can bind to an antibody. Methods of testing whether a fragment of interest can bind to an antibody are known in the art.
  • polypeptides can be purified from natural sources (e.g., wild-type or recombinant yeast cells such as any of those described herein). Smaller peptides (e.g., those less than about 100 amino acids in length) can also be conveniently synthesized by standard chemical means. In addition, both polypeptides and peptides can be produced by standard in vitro recombinant DNA techniques and in vivo transgenesis, using nucleotide sequences encoding the appropriate polypeptides or peptides. Methods well- known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct e-xpression vectors containing relevant coding sequences and appropriate transcriptional/txanslational control signals.
  • Polypeptides and fragments of the invention also in. elude those described above, but modified by the addition, at the amino- and/or carboxyl -terminal ends, of a blocking agent to facilitate survival of the relevant polypeptide. This can be useful in those situations in which the peptide termini tend to be degraded by proteases.
  • blocking agents can include, without limitation, additional related or unrelated peptide sequences that can be attached to the amino and/or carboxyl tenninal -residues of the peptide to be administered. This can be done either chemically during tr-te synthesis of the peptide or by recombinant DNA technology by methods familiar to artisans of average skill.
  • blocking agents such as pyroglutamic acid or other molecules known in the art can be attached to the amino and/or carboxyl terminal residues, or the amino group at the amino terminus or carboxyl group at the carboxyl tenninus can be replaced with a different moiety.
  • the peptides ca-n be covalently or non- covalently coupled to pharmaceutically acceptable "carrier" ' proteins prior to administration.
  • peptidomimetic compounds that are designed based upon the amino acid sequences of the functional peptide fragments.
  • Peptidomimetic compounds are synthetic compounds having a three-dimensional conformation (i.e., a "peptide motif) that is substantially the same as the three-dimensiorxal conformation of a selected peptide.
  • the peptide motif provides the peptidomimetic compound with the ability to enantioselectively hydrolyse a SEO of interest in a manner qualitatively identical to that of the YESH functional fragment from which the peptidomimetic was derived.
  • Peptidomimetic compounds can have additional characteristics that enhance their therapeutic utility, such as increased cell penneability and prolonged biological half-life.
  • the peptidomimetics typically have a backbone that is partially or completely non-peptide, but with side groups that are identical to the side groups of the amino acid residues that occur in the peptide on which the peptidomimetic is based.
  • Several types of chemical bonds e.g., ester, thioester, thioamide, refroamide. reduced carbonyl, dimethylene and ketomethylene bonds, are known in the art to be generally useful substitutes for peptide bonds in the construction of protease-resistant peptidomimetics.
  • the invention also provides compositions and preparations containing one or more (e.g., two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, 12, 15, 20, 25, or more) of the above-described polypeptides, polypeptide variants, and polypeptide fragments.
  • the composition or preparation can be, for example a crude cell (e.g., yeast cell) extract or culture supernatant, a crude enzyme preparation, a highly purified enzyme preparation.
  • the compositions and preparations can also contain one or more of a variety of carriers or stabilizers known in the art.
  • Carriers and stabilizers are kno"wn in the art and include, for example: buffers, such as phosphate, citrate, and other non-o-rganic acids; antioxidants such as ascorbic acid; low molecular weight (less than 10 residues) polypeptides; proteins such as serum albumin, gelatin or immunoglobulins; hydrophilic polymers such polyvinylpyrrolidone; amino acids such as glycine, glutamine, asparagine, arginine, or lysine; monosaccharides, disaccharides, and other carbohydrates including glucose, mannose, or dextrans; chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA); sugar alcohols such as mannitol, or sorbitol; salt-fonning counterions such as sodium; and/or nonionic surfactants such as Tween and Pluronics,.
  • buffers such as phosphate, citrate, and other non-o-rganic acids
  • antioxidants such
  • the invention provides methods for obtaining enantiopure, or substantially enantiopure, optically active SEO and optically active PED.
  • Enantiopure optically active SEO or PED preparations are preparations containing one enantiomer of the SEO or PED and none of the other enantiomer of the SEO or PED.
  • Substantially enantiopure optically active SEO or PED preparations are preparations containing at least 55% (e.g., at least: 60%; 70%; 80%; 85%; 90%; 95%; 97%; 98%; 99%; 99.5%; 99.8%; or 99.9%), relative to the total amount of both SEO or PED enantiomers, of the particular enantiomer of the SEO or the PED.
  • the method involves exposing a SEO sample containing a mixture of both enantiomers of the SEO to a YESH polypeptide (e.g., an isolated YESH polypeptide or one in a microbial cell), which selectively catalyzes the conversion of one of the enantiomers of the SEO to a corresponding PED.
  • a YESH polypeptide e.g., an isolated YESH polypeptide or one in a microbial cell
  • YESH polypeptides useful for the invention will catalyze the conversion of one enantiomer of a SEO to its corresponding PED with less than 80% (e.g., less than: 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%; 20%; 10%; 5%; 2.5%; 1%; 0.5%; 0.01%) of the efficiency that its catalyzes the conversion of the other enantiomer of the SEO to its corresponding PED.
  • the starting enantiomeric mixtures can be racemic with respect to the two SEO enantiomers or they can contain various proportions of the two SEO enantiomers ((e.g., 95:5, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40 or 50:50)
  • optimal concentrations of the SEO and conditions of incubation will vary from one YESH polypeptide to another and from one SEO to another. Given the teachings of the working examples contained herein, one skilled in the art will how to select working conditions for the production of a desired enantiomer of a desired PED and/or SEO.
  • the method can be implemented by, for example, incubating (culruring) the SEO enantiomeric mixtures with a wild-type yeast cell or a recombinant cell (yeast or any other host species listed herein) containing a nucleic acid sequence (e.g., a gene or a recombinant nucleic acid sequence) encoding a YESH polypeptide, a crude extract from such cells, a semi-purified preparation of a YESH polypeptide, or an isolated YESH polypeptide, all of which exhibit epoxide hydrolase activity with chiral preference.
  • a nucleic acid sequence e.g., a gene or a recombinant nucleic acid sequence
  • the strain of the yeast cell may be selected from the following genera: Arxula, Brettanomyces, Bullera, Bulleromyces, Candida, Ciyptococcus, Debaiyomyces, Dekkera, Exophiala, Geotrichum, Hormonema, Issatchenlda, Kluyveromyces, Lipomyces, Mastigomyces, Myxozyma, Pichia, Rhodosporidium, Rhodotoi'ula, Sporidiobolus, Sporobolomyces, Trichosporon, Wingea, or Yarrowia.
  • Yeast strains innately capable of producing a polypeptide that converts or hydrolyses mixtures of SEO to optically active (i.e. enantiopure or substantially enantiopure) SEO and/or PED include the following exemplary genera and species:
  • the yeast strain can be, for example, one selected from Tables 2 or 3 (see below).
  • Cultivation in bioreactors (fermenters) of yeast strains expressing a YESH polypeptide, or fragment thereof, can be carried out under conditions that provide useful biomass and/or enzyme titer yields.
  • Cultivation can fc>e by batch, fed-batch or continuous culture methods. Useful cultivation conditions are dependent on the yeast strain used. General procedures for establishing useful growthi conditions of yeasts, fungi and bacteria in bioreactors are known to those skilled in the art. The mixture of epoxides can be added directly to the culture.
  • the concentration of the SEO enantiomeric mixture in the reaction matrix can be at least equal to the soluble concentration of the SEO enantiomeric mixture in water.
  • the prefened epoxide level in the reaction matrix is greater than the solubility limit in the aqueous reaction medium thereby resulting in a two phase reaction system.
  • the starting amount of epoxide added to the reaction mixture is not critical, provided that the concentration is at least equal to the solubility of the specific epoxide in the aqueous reaction medium.
  • the epoxide can be metered out continuously or in batch mode to the reaction mixture.
  • the relative proportions of (R)- and (S)-epoxide in the mixture of enantiomers of the epoxide shown by the general fonnula (I) is not critical but it is advantageous for commercial purpose to employ a racemic fonn of the epoxide shown by the general formula (I).
  • the epoxide can be added in a racemic form or as a mixture of enantiomers in different ratios.
  • the amount of the yeast cells, crude yeast cell extract, or partially purified or isolated polypeptide having SEO enantioselective activity added to the reaction depends on the kinetic parameters of the specific reaction and the amount of epoxide that is to be hydrolysed.
  • biomass and culture medium can be separated by methods known to one skilled in the art, such as filtration or centrifugation.
  • the processes are generally perfonned under mild conditions.
  • the reactions can be carried out at a pH from 5 to 10, preferably from 6.5 to 9, and most preferably from 7 to 8.5.
  • the temperature for hydrolysis can be from 0 to 70 °C, preferably from 0 to 50 °C, most preferably from 4 to 40 °C. It is also known that lowering of the temperature of the reaction can enhance enantioselectivity of an enzyme.
  • the reaction mixture can contain mixtures of water with at least one water- miscible solvents (e.g., water-miscible organic solvents).
  • water-miscible solvents are added to the reaction mixture such that epoxide hydrolase activity remains measurable.
  • Water-miscible solvents are preferably organic solvents and can be, for example, acetone, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetonitrile, dimethylsulfoxide, NN-dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrolidine, and the like.
  • the reaction mixture can also, or alternatively, contain mixtures of water with at least one water-immiscible organic solvent.
  • water-immiscible solvents examples include, for example, toluene, 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, methyl tert- butyl ether, methyl isobutyl ketone, dibutyl-o-phtalate, aliphatic alcohols containing 6 to 9 carbon atoms (for example hexanol, octanol), aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 6 to 16 carbon atoms (for example cyclohexane, 77-hexane, n -octane, n -decane, n -dodecane, n - tetradecane and n -hexadecane or mixtures of the aforementioned hydrocarbons), and the like.
  • aliphatic alcohols containing 6 to 9 carbon atoms for example hexanol, octanol
  • the reaction mixture can include water with at least one water-immiscible organic solvent selected from the group consisting of toluene, 1,1,2- trichlorotrifluoroethane, methyl tert-butyl ether, methyl isobutyl ketone, dibutyl-o- phtalate, aliphatic alcohols containing 6 to 9 carbon atoms, and aliphatic hydrocarbons containing 6 to 16 carbon.
  • the reaction mixture can also contain surfactants (for example, Tween 80), cyclodextrins or any agent that can increase the solubility, selectively or otherwise, of the epoxide enantiomers in the aqueous reaction phase.
  • the reaction mixture can also contain a buffer.
  • Buffers are known in the art and include, for example, phosphate buffers, Tris buffer, and HEPES buffers.
  • the production of the YESH polypeptides, including functional fragments can be, for example, as recited above in the section on Polypeptides and Polypeptide Fragments. Thus they can made by production in a natural host cell, production in a recombinant host cell, or synthetic production. Recombinant production can be carried out in host cells of microbial origin. Prefened yeast host cells are selected from, but are not limited to, the genera Saccharomyces, Klujn'eromyces, Hansenula, Pichia, Yarrowia and Candida.
  • Prefened bacterial host cells include Escherichia coli, Agrobacterium species, Bacillus species and Streptomyces species.
  • Prefened filamentous fungal host cells are selected from the group consisting of the genera Aspergillus, Trichoderma, and Fusarium.
  • the production of the polypeptide can be, e.g., intra- or extra- cellular production and can be by, e.g., secretion into the culture medium.
  • the polypeptides (including functional fragments) can be immobilized on a solid support or free in solution.
  • Procedures for immobilization of the yeast or preparation thereof include, but are not limited to, adsorption; covalent attachment; cross-linked enzyme aggregates; cross-linked enzyme crystals; entrapment in hydrogels; and entrapment into reverse micelles.
  • the progress of the reaction can be monitored by standard procedures known to one skilled in the art, which include, for example, gas chromatography or high-pressure liquid chromatography on columns containing chiral stationary phases.
  • the vicinal diol formed can be removed from the reaction mixture at one or more stages of the reaction
  • the reaction can be terminated when one enantiomer of the epoxide and/or vicinal diol is found to be in excess compared to the other enantiomer of the epoxide and/or vicinal diol.
  • the reaction is terminated when one enantiomer of an epoxide of general formula (I) and/or vicinal diol of general formula (II) is found to be in an enantiomeric excess of at least 90%.
  • the reaction is terminated when one enantiomer of an epoxide of general formula (I) and/or vicinal of general formula (II) is found to be in an enantiomeric excess of at least 95%.
  • the reaction can be terminated by the separation (for example centrifugation, membrane filtration and the like) of the yeast, or a preparation thereof, from the reaction mixture or by inactivation (for example by heat treatment or addition of salts and/or organic solvents) of the yeast or polypeptide, or preparation thereof.
  • the reaction can be stop for by, for example, the separation of the catalytic agent from the reactants and products in the mixture, or by ablation or inhibition of the catalytic activity, by techniques known to one skilled in the art.
  • the optically active epoxides and/or vicinal diols produced by the reaction can be recovered from the reaction mixture, directly or after removal of the yeast, or preparation thereof.
  • the process can include continuously recovering the optically active epoxide and/or vicinal diol produced by the reaction directly from the reaction mixture.
  • Methods of removal of the optically active epoxide and/or vicinal diol produced by the reaction include, for example, extraction with an organic solvent (such as hexane, toluene, diethyl ether, petroleum ether, dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and the like), vacuum concentration, crystallisation, distillation, membrane separation, column chromatography and the like.
  • organic solvent such as hexane, toluene, diethyl ether, petroleum ether, dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and the like
  • the present invention provides an efficient process with economical advantages compared to other chemical and biological methods for the production, in high enantiomeric purity, of optically active epoxides of the general formula (I) and vicinal diols of the general formula (II) in the presence of a yeast strain having enantioselective epoxide hydrolase activity or a polypeptide having such activity.
  • the invention features antibodies that bind to yeast epoxide hydrolase polypeptides or fragments (e.g., antigenic or functional fragments) of such polypeptides.
  • the polypeptides are preferably yeast epoxide polypeptides with enantioselective activity, and in particular those with styrene-type epoxide enantioselective activity (i.e.,YESH), e.g., those with SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
  • the antibodies preferably bind specifically to yeast epoxide hydrolase polypeptides, i.e., not to epoxide hydrolase polypeptides of species other than yeast species.
  • yeast epoxide polypeptides with enantioselective activity and in particular to YESH polypeptides, e.g., those with SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. They can moreover bind specifically to one or more of polypeptides with SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
  • Antibodies can be polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies; methods for producing both types of antibody are known in the art.
  • the antibodies can be of any class (e.g.,
  • IgM, IgG, IgA, IgD, or IgE are preferably IgG antibodies.
  • polyclonal antibodies and monoclonal antibodies can be generated in, or generated from B cells from, animals any number of vertebrate (e.g., mammalian) species, e.g., humans, non- human primates (e.g., monkeys, baboons, or chimpanzees), horses, goats, camels, sheep, pigs, bovine animals (e.g., cows, bulls, or oxen), dogs, cats, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, birds (such as chickens or turkeys), or fish.
  • vertebrate e.g., mammalian
  • non- human primates e.g., monkeys, baboons, or chimpanzees
  • horses goats
  • camels camels
  • sheep, pigs bovine animals
  • Recombinant antibodies specific for YESH polypeptides such as chimeric monoclonal antibodies composed of portions derived from different species and humanized monoclonal antibodies comprising both human and non-human portions, are also encompassed by the invention.
  • Such chimeric and humanized monoclonal antibodies can be produced by recombinant DNA techniques known in the art, for example, using methods described in Robinson et al., International Patent Publication PCT/US86/02269; Akira et al., European Patent Application 184,187; Taniguchi, European Patent Application 171,496; Morrison et al., European Patent Application 173,494; Neuberger et al., PCT Application WO 86/01533; Cabilly et al., U.S.
  • Such fragments include, but are not limited to: F(ab') 2 fragments that can be produced by pepsin digestion of antibody molecules; Fab fragments that can be generated by reducing the disulfide bridges of F(ab') 2 fragments; and Fab fragments that can be generated by treating antibody molecules with papain and a reducing agent. See, e.g., National Institutes of Health, 1 Current Protocols In Immunology), Coligan et al., ed. 2.8, 2.10 (Wiley Interscience, 1991).
  • Antibody fragments also include Fv fragments, i.e., antibody products in which there are few or no constant region amino acid residues.
  • a single chain Fv fragment is a single polypeptide chain that includes both the heavy and light chain variable regions of the antibody from which the scFv is derived. Such fragments can be produced, for example, as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,642,334, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • the antibody can be a "humanized" version of a monoclonal antibody originally generated in a different species.
  • the above-described antibodies can be used for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, YESH polypeptide purification, detection, and quantitative measurement. The following examples serve to illustrate, not limit, the invention.
  • Yeasts were grown at 30 °C in 1 L shake-flask cultures containing 200 ml yeast extract/malt extract (YM) medium (3 % yeast extract, 2 % malt extract, 1 % peptone w/v) supplemented with 1 % glucose (w/v).
  • YM yeast extract/malt extract
  • the cells were harvested by centrifugation (10 000 g, 10 min, 4 °C), washed with phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH7.5), pelleted by centrifugation, and frozen in phosphate buffer containing glycerol (20%) at -20 °C as 20% (w/v) cell suspensions. The cells were stored for several months without significant loss of activity.
  • Epoxide (10 ⁇ l of a 1M stock solution in EtOH) was added to a final concentration of 20 mM to 500 ⁇ l cell suspension (20% w/v) in phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 7.5).
  • the reaction mixtures were incubated at 30 °C for 5 hours, extracted with EtOAc (300 ⁇ l), and centrifuged. Vicinal diol formation was evaluated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) (silica gel Merck 60 F 254 ). Compounds were visualized by spraying with vanillin cone. H 2 SO 4 (5g/l). Reaction mixtures that showed substantial vicinal diol formation were evaluated for asymmetric hydrolysis of the epoxide by chiral GLC analysis. Some reactions were repeated over longer or shorter times in order to analyse the reactions at suitable conversions.
  • Yeast strains Yeast strains with the "Jen” designation and numerical screen numbers were obtained from the Yeast Culture Collection of the University of the Free State. Yeast strains with “AB” or “Car” or “Alf ' or “Poh” designations were isolated from soil from specialised ecological niches. "AB” and “Alf strains were isolated from Cape Mountain fynbos, an ecological enviromnent unique to South Africa, "Car” strains were isolated from soil under pine trees, and “Poh” strains from soil contaminated by high concentrations of cyanide. It seemed likely that microorganisms existing in these contaminated soils would have alternative respiratory mechanisms.
  • Rhodosporidium toruloides NCYC 3181
  • Cultivation was performed at 25 °C in 15 L Braun Biostat C bioreactors (working volume 10 L).
  • An overpressure of 500 mbar was applied to the reactor.
  • Dissolved oxygen was continuously monitored and maintained at 30% saturation by adjustment of the stiner speed.
  • Airflow rate was controlled at 5.5 L.min " by use of a mass flow meter. pH was automatically maintained at 5.5 ⁇ O.05 by the addition of 25 % (w/v) NH 4 OH. Excessive foam formation was avoided by the addition of antifoam (Pluriol P 2000).
  • Rhodosporidium to ⁇ uloides (NCYC 3181) was transfened into a 15 L Braun Biostat C bioreactor containing 6 L medium with the following composition (per litre): citric acid, 2.5 g; yeast extract, 7 g; (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , 58 g; KH 2 PO 4 , 11.3 g; MgSO 4 .7H 2 O, 8.2 g; CaCl 2 .2H 2 O, 0.88 g; NaCl, 0.1 g; H 3 PO4, 13.4; vitamin solution, 1.7 ml; trace element solution, 1 ml; antifoam (Pluriol P- 2000), 0.5 ml; and glucose, 20 g.
  • citric acid 2.5 g
  • yeast extract 7 g
  • KH 2 PO 4 11.3 g
  • CaCl 2 .2H 2 O 0.
  • Glucose 60 % m/m was fed to maintain a residual glucose concentration of 5 g/1 after the batch phase. Glucose feed was stopped when the glucose uptake rate decreased. Cultivation was continued for 12 hours after the residual glucose concentration was zero. The biomass was harvested by centrifugation and frozen at -20 °C in phosphate buffer pH 7.5 containing 20 % glycerol until use.
  • Example II Sequencing- cloning and overexpression of wild type yeast epoxide hydrolases in Yarrowia lipolytica as production host under the control of different promoters
  • Vector preparation pINA1291 (Fig. 1) was obtained from Dr Madzak of Labo de Genetique, INRA, CNRS. This vector was renamed pYLHnxA (Yarrowia Lipolytica expression vector, with Hp4d promoter, multi-copy integration selection, Absent secretion signal; e.g. for construction of recombinant strain YL-25HmA).
  • pINA3313 (pKOV93) (Fig. 2) was prepared by the inventors. This vector was renamed pYLTsA (Yarrowia Lipolytica expression vector, with TEF promoter, single- copy integration selection, Absent secretion signal ; e.g. for construction of recombinant strain YL-25TsA).
  • nucleotide sequences of the forward and reverse primers used to generate cDNA coding sequences from mRNA from seven different yeast strains with appropriate restriction enzyme recognition sites at their tennini are shown below. Restriction enzyme recognition sequences are underlined and the relevant restriction enzymes are shown in parentheses.
  • Each PCR reaction contained 200 ⁇ M dNTPs, 250 nM of each primer, 2 mM of MgCl , cDNA and 2.5 U of Taq polymerase in a 50 ⁇ l reaction volume.
  • the PCR profile used was: 95°C for 5 minutes, followed by 30 cycles of: 95°C - 1 min, 50°C - 1 min, 72°C - 2 min, then a final extension of 72°C for 10 minutes.
  • the PCR products were purified and digested with the restriction enzymes whose recognition sites are engineered at the end of the primers.
  • the cDNA fragment was cloned into a vector and sequenced for confirmation.
  • Coding seqences to be inserted in either pYLHmA or pYLTsA were prepared with BamHI and -4vrII at their termini.
  • the above PCR primers were designed with these restriction sites, unless the sites were also present in the gene to be inserted. If this occuned, appropriate compatible restriction enzymes were selected.
  • PCR template DNA was either the insert cloned into a different vector, or cDNA synthesized from the original host organism. PCR reactions consisted of 200 ⁇ M dNTP's, 250 nM each primer, IX Taq polymerase buffer, and 2.5 units Taq polymerase per 100 ⁇ l reaction.
  • the amplification programme used was: 95°C for 5 minutes, 30 cycles of 95°C for 1 minute, 50°C for 1 minute, and 72°C for 2 minutes, followed by a single duration at 72°C for 10 minutes.
  • PCR products were purified and digested with the relevant restriction enzymes. The digested DNA was subsequently repurified and was ready for ligation into the prepared vector.
  • pYLHmA or pYLTsA constructs Vector and insert were ligated at pmol end ratios of 3:1 — 10:1 (insertivector), using commercial T4 DNA Ligase. Ligations were electroporated into any laboratory strain of Escherichia coli, using the Bio-Rad GenePulser, or equivalent electroporator. Transformants were selected on LM media (10 g/L yeast extract, 10 g/L tryptone, 5 g/L NaCl), supplemented with kanamycin (50 ⁇ g/ml). Transformants were selected based on restriction enzyme digests of purified plasmid DNA.
  • Yarrowia lipolytica transformation 6.1.1. Preparation of DNA - method 1 Digestion of the pINA-series of plasmids with Notl resulted in the release of a bacterial D ⁇ A-free expression cassette, containing the ura3d4 (pYLHmA) or the ura3dl (pYLTsA) marker gene and the promoter-gene-terminator. Scaled-up quantities of each plasmid were isolated. Notl was used to restrict the plasmid D ⁇ A, and the digested D ⁇ A was run on an agarose gel.
  • pYLHmA ura3d4
  • pYLTsA ura3dl
  • Notl digests resulted in generation of the bacterial fragment of the plasmid as a band at 2210 bp, and the expression cassette as a band of 2760 bp + size of insert (pYLHmA) or 2596 bp + size of insert (pYLTsA).
  • the expression cassette fragments were excised from the gel and purified from the agarose. The purified fragment was used for transformation of Y. lipolytica Polh.
  • the yeast was inoculated into 50 ml YPD (10 g/L yeast extract, 20 g/L peptone, 20 g/L glucose). The culture was incubated at 30°C, 220 rpm until cell densities of 8 x 10 7 - 2 x 10 s cells/ml were reached. The entire culture was harvested, the pellet resuspended in 10 ml TE and reharvested. 1 ml TE + 0.1 M LiOAc was used to resuspend the pellet and the culture was incubated at 28°C in a ProBlot Jr (Labnet) hybridisation oven, set at 4 rpm (or similar incubator) for 1 hour.
  • YPD 10 g/L yeast extract, 20 g/L peptone, 20 g/L glucose
  • Transformation mixes were set up with 0.5 - 2 ⁇ g of transforming DNA + 5 ⁇ g of earner DNA with 100 ⁇ l of treated cells. Each mix was set up in a 1.5 ml microfuge tube, and incubated in a 28°C heating block for 30 minutes. 7 volumes of PEG reagent (40% PEG 4,000, 0.1 M LiOAc, 10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.5, filter-sterilised) were added to each, mixed carefully and incubated at 28°C for a further 1 hour. The tubes were transfened to a 37°C heating block for 15 minutes, and then the cells were pelleted by centrifugation for 1 minute at 13,000 rpm.
  • PEG reagent 50% PEG 4,000, 0.1 M LiOAc, 10 mM Tris, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.5, filter-sterilised
  • the cell pellets were carefully resuspended in 100 ⁇ l dH 2 O.
  • the transformations were plated on Y. lipolytica selective plates (17 g/1 Difco yeast nitrogen base without amino acids and without (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , 20 g/L glucose, 4 g/L NH 4 C1, 2 g/L casamino acids, 300 mg/L leucine) and incubated at 28°C. Colonies which appeared on the selective plates after 3 - 7 days were transfened onto fresh plates and regrown.
  • Example III Selection of wild type yeasts that are able to produce optically active styrene epoxide and phenyl ethanediol from unsubstituted (--Q-styrene epoxide.
  • [S] is the concentration at the appropriate time point of the reaction of (S)-SEO enantiomer and [R] is the concentration at the appropriate time point of the reaction of the (R)-SEO enantiomer.
  • a positive ee value indicates the relevant yeast (or yeast-derived epoxide hydrolase) is enantioselective for the R-enantiomer of the SEO and negative ee value indicates the relevant yeast (or yeast-derived epoxide hydrolase) is enantioselective for the S enantiomer of the SEO.
  • yeast strains refened to in this and the following examples are kept and maintained at the University of the Orange Free State (UOFS), Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa (Tel +27 51 401 2396, Fax + 27 51 444 3219) and are readily identified by the yeast species and culture collection number as indicated.
  • Representative examples of strains belonging to the different species have been deposited under the Budapest Treaty at National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), Institute of Food Research Norwich Research Park Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, U.K.
  • Samples of the yeast strains not deposited at NCYC will be made available upon request on the same basis and conditions of the Budapest Treaty.
  • Various wild-type yeast strains selected from Table 2 were used (as Samples 24- 30) to produce optically active unsubstituted SEO and optically active unsubstituted phenylethanediol from racemic unsubstituted SEO.
  • a line graph is supplied that shows the change in concentrations of the epoxide and diol enantiomers with time (left y-axis) and the enantiomeric excess (ee) of the epoxide and conversion to diol at different times where the degree of conversion means the molar amount of epoxide converted to diol as a percentage (%) of the starting total molar amount of both epoxide enantiomers (right y-axis) (Figs. 3 - 9).
  • Example IN Production of optically active (S)-styrene epoxide and ( )- phenylethanediol using host yeast cells transformed with the epoxide hydrolase genes from selected wild type yeast strains
  • Figs. 10 - 12 show the hydrolysis of ( ⁇ ) racemic unsubstituted SEO by recombinant yeast strains (tested in this example as Samples 31-33) expressing, under control of different promoters, exogenous epoxide hydrolases from selected wild-type yeast strains to produce (S)-unsubstituted SEO and (R)-unsubstituted PED.
  • Example N Production of optically active (S)-unsubstituted-styrene epoxide and ( )-unsubstituted phenylethanediol using whole or lysed yeast host cells transformed with the epoxide hydrolase genes from a Rhodotorula araucariae strain Whole cells and lysed cell suspensions of recombinant expression hosts transformed with the epoxide hydrolase gene from Rhodotoi'ula araucariae ( ⁇ CYC
  • Example N The same recombinant strain tested in Example N was cultivated (as Sample 38 in this example) in a 10 L reaction volume in a 15 L fermenter and used to hydrolyse (+)-unsubstituted SEO in a stirred tank reactor at high substrate concentration (1 M SEO in total reaction matrix) at low temperature with inclusion of 2% m/v tri-butyl phosphate (TBP) additive to improve biocatalyst stability.
  • TBP tri-butyl phosphate
  • Example VII Phenyl-substituted styrene epoxide reactions Reactions using phenyl-substituted SEO that were used as substrates to illustrate the ability of different yeast strains with enantioselective epoxide hydrolases to hydrolyse ( ⁇ )-2- 5 3- or 4-susbtituted styrene epoxides represented by the general formula (I) are schematically depicted in Fig 18.
  • Example VIII Use of wild-type yeast strains to produce optically active 3- chlorostyrene epoxide and 3-chlorophenyl ethanediol from (---)-3-ehlorostyrene epoxide
  • Enantiomeric excesses ee; calculated as described in Example III
  • yeast strains referred to in this and the following examples are kept and maintained at the University of the Orange Free State (UOFS), Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa (Tel +27 51 401 2396, Fax + 27 51 444 3219) and are readily identified by the yeast species and culture collection number as indicated.
  • Representative examples of strains belonging to the different species have been deposited under the Budapest Treaty at National Collection of Yeast Cultures (NCYC), Institute of Food Research Norwich Research Park Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, U.K.
  • Example IX Production of optically active (S)-3-ehlorostyrene epoxide and (Rl-3-chlorophenylethanediol using yeast host cells transformed with the epoxide hydrolase genes from selected wild type yeast strains
  • Figs. 24-28 show the hydrolysis of (+) 3-chloroSEO by recombinant yeast strains (tested in this example as Samples 138-142) expressing, under control of different promoters, exogenous epoxide hydrolases from selected wild-type yeast strains to produce (S)-3-chloroSEO and (R)-3-chloroPED.
  • the first graph (panel A) shows the change in concentrations of the epoxide enantiomers with time, while the second graph (panel B) shows the enantiomeric excess of the residual epoxide at different conversions.
  • the yield of the optically active epoxide that can be obtained at a particular enantiomeric purity can be obtained from these graphs.
  • Example X Production of optically active (S)-2-chlorostyrene epoxide and (R)-2-chlorophenylethanediol using yeast host cells transformed with the epoxide hydrolase genes from selected wild type yeast strains Figs. 29-30 show the hydrolysis of (+) 2-chloroSEO by recombinant yeast strains (tested in this example as Samples 143 and 144) expressing, under control of Hp4d promoter, exogenous epoxide hydrolases from selected wild-type yeast strains to produce (S)-2-chloroSEO and (R)-2-chloroPED.
  • the first graph (panel A) shows the change in concentrations of the epoxide enantiomers with time, while the second graph (panel B) shows the enantiomeric excess of the residual epoxide at different conversions.
  • the yield of the optically active epoxide that can be obtained at a particular enantiomeric purity can be obtained from these graphs.
  • Example XI Production of optically active (S)-4-chlorostyrene epoxide and ( )-4-chlorophenylethanediol using yeast host cells transformed with the epoxide hydrolase genes from selected wild type yeast strains
  • Figs. 31-36 show the hydrolysis of (+)-4-chloroSEO by recombinant yeast strains (tested in this example as Samples 145-150) expressing, under control of different promoters, exogenous epoxide hydrolases from selected wild-type yeast strains to produce (S)-4-chloroSEO and (R)-4-chloroPED.
  • the first graph (panel A) shows the change in concentrations of the epoxide enantiomers with time, while the second graph (panel B) shows the enantiomeric excess of the residual epoxide at different conversions.
  • the yield of the optically active epoxide that can be obtained at a particular enantiomeric purity can be obtained from these graphs.
  • Example XII Production of optically active (S or R)-2,-, 3-, or 4-nitrostyrene epoxide and (R or SV2-, 3-- or 4-nitrophenylethanediol using selected wild-type yeast strains or yeast host cells transformed with the epoxide hydrolase genes from selected wild type yeast strains Figs.

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Abstract

L'invention concerne des souches de levure, et des polypeptides codés par des gènes de ces souches de levure, qui présentent une activité d'hydrolase époxyde de styrène énantiospécifique. L'invention concerne également des molécules d'acides nucléiques codant de tels polypeptides, des vecteurs contenant ces molécules d'acides nucléiques et des cellules contenant ces vecteurs. L'invention concerne enfin des procédés permettant d'obtenir des diols vicinaux de styrène optiquement actifs ainsi que des époxydes de styrène optiquement actifs.
PCT/IB2005/001021 2004-04-19 2005-04-18 Procedes d'obtention d'epoxydes optiquement actifs et de diols vicinaux a partir d'oxydes de styrene WO2005100569A2 (fr)

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WO2007010403A2 (fr) 2005-04-14 2007-01-25 Scir Levures de recombinaison permettant d'effectuer la synthese des epoxyde hydrolases
EP1910514A2 (fr) * 2005-04-14 2008-04-16 Csir Levures de recombinaison permettant d'effectuer la synthèse des epoxydes hydrolases
EP1910514A4 (fr) * 2005-04-14 2010-03-03 Oxyrane Uk Ltd Levures de recombinaison permettant d'effectuer la synthèse des epoxydes hydrolases
WO2006109198A2 (fr) * 2005-04-15 2006-10-19 Oxyrane Uk Limited Methodes pour obtenir des ethers de glycidyle optiquement actifs et de diols vicinaux optiquement actifs a partir de substrats racemiques
WO2006109198A3 (fr) * 2005-04-15 2007-02-15 Csir Methodes pour obtenir des ethers de glycidyle optiquement actifs et de diols vicinaux optiquement actifs a partir de substrats racemiques

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US20070281339A1 (en) 2007-12-06
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US20090275077A1 (en) 2009-11-05
ZA200608665B (en) 2008-12-31
WO2005100569A3 (fr) 2006-04-13
SG152251A1 (en) 2009-05-29

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